On the Bright Side

Typically, January is my least favorite month of the year. The anticipation of Christmas and the holidays is over, any remaining lights on houses now just make me feel melancholy. It's back to being a responsible calorie counter and gym-goer, and it feels like spring is no where in sight. It's a little rainy and dark this morning. The Ravens have officially ended the season with a sad loss last night to Indy - which we missed since we were enjoying one of Ross's Christmas presents - Brad Sherwood and Colin Mochrie (both from Whose Line is it Anyway?) at the Lyric - and so we decided it was much more fun to laugh for two and a half hours than watch a sad defeat. I have a mountain of laundry and school work to catch up on, but am procrastinating, instead making cinnamon muffins (oh, the house smells SO good right now!) and watching the DVR'ed premier of Project Runway. Then I am going to snuggle down and continue reading The Piano Teacher (how did I miss this book last year??). Maybe January isn't so bad after all...

Happy First Anniversary

So one year ago today, this is what we were up to...

We stuck to tradition and ate some of our wedding cake one year later. It was actually pretty tasty...or else I have deprived myself of sweets for so long, that year old cake tasted good.

Not sure. :)

We had a wonderful year as newlyweds! We celebrated the end of year one at the Rusty Scupper, sitting at the same table where Ross proposed, the piano player played the same song (which was our first dance song, "More"), and we had a delicious meal overlooking the lights of the Inner Harbor.

Happy First Anniversary, Ross! I love you!

The stockings were hung...

our Christmas Eve table
(Holidays are a LOT less stressful when you are not getting married the day after Christmas!)

...and to all a good night!

Christmas Time is Here

Merry Christmas! Have a joyous holiday season!

...the Reason for the season...

Mom helped out (a LOT) with my centerpiece. Very Williamsburg, yes? SO happy to have a crafty, creative mom!

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

O Christmas Tree and Grandmom's vintage carolers.

...perfect for snuggling up when it is snowing outside...

...ready for Christmas carols...

...favorite Christmas stories...

...o come all ye faithful...

We got the Dickens houses up last weekend. They look wonderful all lit up at night! Thanks, Ross - you were a trooper getting these all up! (While Mom, Jillian, and I ate shrimp dip - remember what I said about him being patient? He so is.)

My Barbie tree. ;)

...yes, Christmas time is here...

A little more about Thanksgiving...

Not only does she sing and dance (she was an excellent Ghost of Christmas Past this weekend at the Covered Bridge Theater's production of "A Christmas Carol"), she hosts a pretty good Thanksgiving! It was a good time, little sister. Love you!

With Gratitude

So we have some drizzle and fog this Thanksgiving morning, but there is still so much to be thankful for! Here's my top 10 list...

1. My wonderfully patient, sweet, thoughtful, hard-working, did I mention patient, husband.

I love you, Ross!

2. My healthy, happy family.

I am so blessed to enjoy spending time with Mom, Jillian, and Grandmom.

3. A new church home -within walking distance! -

where we are inspired weekly to grow stronger in our faith.

3. Friends, Friends, awesome friends. :) You know who you are.

4. A career that I love. I get to work with wonderful teachers, adminstrators, and great kids - every day!

5. A home that we have worked hard to design and build. I still look around and marvel at how we made a vision truly come to life... and we get to live here!

6. The smell of warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven.

7. My own health and the health of my husband and family.

(The ability to walk on the treadmill makes eating those cookies possible!)

8. Good books and quiet time at night to read and relax.

9. Days off. Ahh...

10. A blessed life which I am so thankful for each day.

The mantle...note the tiny little Pilgrim coming out of the house. Ross' idea. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween

Okay, so the band was not that great and it was VERY crowded...but so much fun getting dressed up and going out for Halloween. Where else can you get Miss America, Kate Gosselin, and a pirate all in one room?! Fun times. (And a lot of fake hair!)